For Those That Carry On an Empty Chamber

[ArcadiaGP]

There are rights and there are wrongs in the world. Some issues have gray areas, and some are black and white.

This one is black and white.

If you carry empty, you're doing it wrong. Stop carrying.

No debate, no excuses. You aren't ready to carry a firearm.

(I say this as someone that carried an empty chamber firearm when I first got started. Then I grew out of it.)

 

[Birds Away]

So, I can't just call for a timeout?

 

[lovemachine]

That's why learning how to draw, present, and operate your gun with just your right hand and just your left hand is a good idea before you actually need to do it for real. There might even exist a 4 hour class wherein you spend your time learning these skills.

That 4-hour class completely changed the way I carry a gun. Very eye opening.

 

[Birds Away]

I do miss this thread.

 

[Thor]

So, I can't just call for a timeout?

Sure you can...just expect to be shot during it...

 

[Nam1911]

I have a 2 year old son. I would rather not fumble with racking a slide with my son in my arms. Draw and shoot. Two simple steps that can save your life.

Draw, one handed manipulation without a malfunction, shoot. Way too risky.

 

[Roadie]

I have a 2 year old son. I would rather not fumble with racking a slide with my son in my arms. Draw and shoot. Two simple steps that can save your life.

Draw, one handed manipulation without a malfunction, shoot. Way too risky.

EXCELLENT example of a situation where having an empty chamber could get you, and your child, killed.

 

[Jzim]

I won't carry anything except my 1911 with a round chambered. I only will take a smaller "pocket" gun if clothing requires it (thin dress clothes, etc). Only because I don't trust them as much as I do my 1911 (even if I should). And i prefer to be armed, even if it is without a round chambered, than to be unarmed....

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I won't carry anything except my 1911 with a round chambered. I only will take a smaller "pocket" gun if clothing requires it (thin dress clothes, etc). Only because I don't trust them as much as I do my 1911 (even if I should). And i prefer to be armed, even if it is without a round chambered, than to be unarmed....

False dichotomy. You can be armed and have one chambered. Pocket holster and nothing else in the pocket. Easy. If you don't trust it buy a LCR or J-frame.

 

[mcjon77]

For the people who carry without a round in the chamber. Why not just carry a gun with a manual safety?

This is obviously a very popular topic on gun forums, but every time I ask that question no one has an answer. It just makes no sense to me at all. This isn't the '90s when the only quality striker fired gun was a Glock. Today you have a TON of options. The Ruger SR series and LC9s both come with manual safeties. The S&W M&P series have optional safeties. Even in the little pocket 380 realm, the S&W Bodyguard 380 has a manual safety.

Truth be told, I am also one of those people concerned about negligent discharges with guns lacking manual safeties like Glocks. My solution wasn't to carry without a round chambered, rather it was to buy guns with manual safeties. I have a Ruger SR9c, an LC9s and a Taurus PT111. All have manual safeties. It is VASTLY easier to incorporate

If you want to carry a gun without a manual safety, great! Personally, I am not interested in doing so, but that is what makes the current market for concealed carry guns so awesome, we have a TON of options! I am sure that even the most ardent Glock guys will admit that carrying an M&P with a manual safety in condition 1 is MUCH better than carrying a Glock in condition 3.

This is easily the best video that I have seen on the topic of carrying without a round chambered, because it gives REAL LIFE examples:

https://www.facebook.com/ActiveSelfProtection/videos/vb.102416569866132/768156983292084

 

[Cameramonkey]

McJon77, just make damn sure you train with that safety until it is muscle memory. A manual safety can get you killed.

Two cases: greenwood Walmart. As I recall it was an armored car robbery. Good guy sees its go down and raises his gun point blank at the robber: no bang. He forgot the safety. (he finally tackeled the perp as I recall).

second a ccw guy gets held at gunpoint while they try to steal his motorcycle. He draws and pulls. No bang. Forgot the safety. Perp shoots and kills him when he sees the gun pointed at him. ( he had turned away for a sec to look at the bikes keys I think and the owner took that opportunity to shoot. )

 

[BehindBlueI's]

McJon77, just make damn sure you train with that safety until it is muscle memory. A manual safety can get you killed.

Two cases: greenwood Walmart. As I recall it was an armored car robbery. Good guy sees its go down and raises his gun point blank at the robber: no bang. He forgot the safety. (he finally tackeled the perp as I recall).

second a ccw guy gets held at gunpoint who pile they try to steal his motorcycle. He draws and pulls. No bang. Forgot the safety. Perp shoots and kills him when he sees the gun pointed at him. ( he had turned away for a sec to look at the bikes keys I think and the owner took that opportunity to shoot. )

I can add a recent third no bang due to safety that resulted in the woman being beaten and raped.

 

[mcjon77]

Training with my firearm and practicing disengaging the safety during my draw goes without saying (but I will say it anyway). I view carrying a gun with a safety vs not as an all or nothing proposition. Either you train your draw to disengage the safety every time or don't bother carrying with a safety. Carrying a Glock 75% of the time, then a gun with a safety 25% of the time can lead to problems due to lack of muscle memory regarding disengaging the safety.

I also acknowledge that a gun with a safety requires more training and practice to deploy consistently than a gun with no safety. That is no problem for me because I love training and practicing. The great thing about practicing my draw is that there is no need to go to the range for it. I can practice everyday at home.

 

[JollyMon]

Hard Look....

 

[dudley0]

This is easily the best video that I have seen on the topic of carrying without a round chambered, because it gives REAL LIFE examples:

https://www.facebook.com/ActiveSelfProtection/videos/vb.102416569866132/768156983292084

This was a great find... I am going to forward it to a guy that I know who STILL won't carry with a round chambered. Even with a Sig he bought that has a safety.

Thanks for this.

 

[ChevyNova1970]

When I started carrying, I was a member on this website and compared the two ways of carrying (loaded and unloaded) and decided to carry one in the chamber. As long as your holster has a trigger guard and you know where to place your finger when drawing or handling your firearm, you will be fine!